Goals galore in high-scoring weekend

In the first game of the week, Quilmes and Belgrano played out a 1-1 draw.  Martin Cauteruccio opened the scoring with a superb solo effort, beating three men before stabbing it home with the outside of his right boot.  Quilmes’ lead was short live after Guillermo Farre netted a similarly spectacular effort –a volley from near 30 yards – 5 minutes later.  Though the better side, Quilmes are now six games without a win while Belgrano will be more than happy with a point that takes them four games unbeaten.

Lanus were unable to follow their good performance against Boca as All Boys came from behind to claim a big scalp.  Lanus took the lead through Victor Ayala who unleashed a rocket from 30 yards out but Ivan Borghello instinctive finish made things all square not long after.  The goal was Borghello’s sixth of the season since his move from Barcelona in Ecuador.  And All Boys found a winner when Angel Vildozo calmly tucked away a penalty to give the Floresta side a vital win.

A single Mauro Obolo was enough to give Godoy Cruz a narrow win over Estudiantes on Saturday. Fernando Camacho beat his man on the left and his centre was met by a precise header from an alert Obolo.  The win puts Godoy Cruz back amongst the title contenders and should they continue their strong home form they may well be dark horses.

Argentinos Juniors were involved in another goalfest for the second week in a row, this time around finishing second best to Rafaela on Saturday evening.  The hosts were awarded an early penalty for a clear foul on Sebastian Grazzini and Cesar Carignano made no mistake from the spot.  Argentinos hit back through young midfielder Gaspar Iniguez, pouncing on a loose ball in the box for his first senior goal.  However, a second goal from Carignano put Rafaela back in front with a similar finish from Sebastian Carrera’s cut back.  In a blistering start to the second half, Marcos Figueroa was on hand to score his fourth in two games thanks to the persistence of Juan Luis Anangono and the Argentinos Juniors strike force struck again, this time Figueroa repaying the favour and slipped Anangono in to give Los Bichos Colorados the lead.  The drama was far from over as an unlikely brace from centre back Fabricio Fontanini put Rafaela back ahead.  For the first Fontanini did well to send a looping header from Grazzini’s free kick past Luis Ojeda while his second was the result of an almighty goal line scramble.   With 15 minutes to go Carignano grabbed his hat-trick with the best finish of the night, delightfully chipping Ojeda to wrap up a memorable victory for La Crema.

Racing were the weekends big climbers, winning a second clasico in as many weeks with a resounding 4-0 victory over San Lorenzo.  Goalkeeper and captain Sebastian Saja got things rolling with an early penalty and early in the second half Racing doubled their advantage when Santiago Gentiletti turned Luciano Vietto’s cross into his own net.  Javier Campora, in for Jose Sand, gave Racing an unassailable lead, taking advantage of a horrendously comical defensive error by Abel Masuero to slot in from Ricardo Centurion’s cross.   San Lorenzo’s day went from bad to worse as Gentiletti and then Masuero were sent off following by a Gonzalo Prosperi own goal ten minutes from time to sum up a miserable day for Los Cuervos, with Racing running out eventual  4-0 victors.

River bounced back with a much needed victory to beat Arsenal in convincing fashion.  Leo Ponzio put Los Millonarios ahead with a fine long range strike towards the end of the first half.  Carlos Luna, making only his first start since joining the club, doubled the lead with an impressive volley from Rodrigo Mora dinked ball into the box.  Arsenal were reduced to 10 men when Carlos Carbonero was sent off and a late brace from Rogelio Funes Mori ensured that River completed a thorough 4-0 drubbing to give under-fire Almeyda a first win in six, while Arsenal have lost the last four on the spin.

In the only goalless game of the week, Newell’s were held to a scoreless draw by Tigre but remain top of the table by two points.  Newell’s, still unbeaten, can could themselves unlucky not to have won the game while the draw means that Tigre remain without a win in their opening nine league games.

Fabian Cubero’s record appearance equalling game for Velez was ruined by a clinical Colon in another goal laden match.  Emanuel Gigliotti beat German Montoya to the ball to head Colon in front early on and then scored another header – a fabulous well placed effort – to put Los Sabaleros two up in twenty minutes.  Jorge Achucarro then went and made it three after brilliant work by the youngster Gabriel Graciani to set up the goal.  Alejandro Cabral pulled one back before half time to give Velez a glimmer of hope.  Could they stage an incredible comeback on the same night as Team Europe clinched the Ryder Cup?  Lucas Pratto gave them further hope when he was quickest to react in the area, tucking in his third of the campaign.  But dreams of a comeback were dashed when Facundo Curuchet slide in to make it 4-2 after Maxi Caire’s effort was saved by Montoya.  The loss saw Velez miss the opportunity to go top while Colon, who lost to Cerro Porteno mid-week, were good money for their win.

Ernesto ‘Tecla’ Farias scored twice for Independiente in a desperately needed 2-1 victory over Union.  Farias’ first, a smart turn and shot, gave Independiente the lead after half an hour and, buoyed by his first, he fired a second across the face Oscar Limia’s goal for a two goal cushion.
Federico Chiapello pulled one back on his full debut but Independiente clung on for a big three points.

Boca missed the chance to restore their place at the top of the table after they were unable to find a way past 10-man San Martin.  A clumsy challenge by Rolando Schiavi on Humberto Osorio Botello allowed Mauro Bogado the opportunity to score from the penalty spot to give the visitors a surprise lead.  Boca had a penalty of their own when Gaston Caprari was adjudged to have deliberately handled Santiago Silva’s goal bound shot but Schiavi was unable to make amends for his earlier error as he saw his penalty effort go wide.  The veteran centre back finally had his revenge when his speculative shot from the edge of the area took a slight deflection and went in to level the tie on the cusp of half time.  Despite the man advantage, Boca were unable to breach a resolute San Martin backline and had to settle for a draw.

Results

Quilmes 1-1 Belgrano http://youtu.be/HHE69ZXYHRQ
All Boys 2-1 Lanus http://youtu.be/iSOoGb2h1lA
Godoy Cruz 1-0 Estudiantes http://youtu.be/8YK6kNv60jo
Rafaela 5-3 Argentinos Juniors http://youtu.be/9eckmHh5a4s
Racing 4-0 San Lorenzo http://youtu.be/l0d1zt4kWFI
Arsenal 0-4 River http://youtu.be/pg9b8vyQZTc
Newell’s 0-0 Tigre
Velez 2-4 Colon http://youtu.be/lcfAjkE_duM
Union 1-2 Independiente http://youtu.be/paUHyP76kcU
Boca 1-1 San Martin http://youtu.be/jJ7Wjy4AGVs

TOM ROBINSON

@TomRobbo89